Junior High to go to distance learning next week

Guthrie Public Schools learned late Friday an unexpected damage was discovered due to the flooding of the cafeteria at Guthrie Junior High School. The building’s boiler system that heats a majority of the building was rendered inoperable due to water damage.

After the water had been fully cleared and power restored to the building, the system required a thorough inspection. The units sustained more water damage than originally believed.

Superintendent Dr. Mike Simpson says the cleanup process will begin on Saturday.

Due to the lack of heat, Guthrie Junior High students will be in distance learning for the week of February 22 through the 26th.

“Late this afternoon, we examined all possibilities to get the building opened safely with heat as soon as we learned of the bad news,” Simpson said. “We believe we have a plan to submit to the Board of Education which could get us back up and running as early as Monday, March 1st. Unfortunately, this the best of all bad options. We are fortunate to have a solution as quick as projected.”

Grab and go meals will be available for students at Cotteral, Central and Charter Oak Elementary Schools.

All other GPS classes will resume as scheduled.

In order to respond to this extraordinary circumstance, an emergency meeting of the Guthrie Board of Education has been called for Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Guthrie Board of Education building located at 802 E. Vilas Ave.